"It happened just 40 seconds after a foreshock"

With any luck, lots of people got outside of their buildings in those 40 seconds.

When the 7.9 hit Seattle, once I realized what was happening which took three seconds, I was out of the building in six seconds. It's burned permanently into my memory. There's fourteen steps down, I did it in four strides. Fortunate that I didn't miscalculate and break a leg, but that's what the adrenaline is for.

Also fortunately I wasn't at work that day. I did go in after, just to check on things, and talked to a guy in the building elevator when it hit. Oh and the Russians completely lost their shit they had absolutely no idea what an earthquake is or what to do about it.

Clearly, the important story here is Snoofy.
--Snoofy